linsley



2, Sheets-Sheetv 1.

(No Model.)

E. B. 'LINSLEY.

HAND UAR.

Patented Jan. 9', 1883.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lmgmpher. washington, n. c.

(No Model.) V2 sheetsesheet'z. E.; B i LI-NSLEY.

HAND GAR.

Nofz'ozo. Patented Jan. 9,1883.

i NNITED STATES 'PATENT arten.

EDWARD B. LINSLEY, OF THRWEE RIVERS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHEFFIELD VELOGIPEDE CAR COMPANY, OF SAME PLAGE.

HAND-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 270,320, dated January 9, 1883.

Application filed October 20,1882. (No model.)

'I0 all whom it may concern: i

Beit known that I, EDWARD B. LINsLEY, of Three Rivers, in the county of St. Josephl and State ot' Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Three-Wheel Hand-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable thers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in hand-cars, the object being to provide an improved construction of three-Wheel hand-cars, whereby they may be folded into small compass; further, to provide improved means for propelling the car and regulating its speed; and, further, to provide certain improvements in other features, as will hereinafter appear.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a View in side elevation of a three -wheeled hand-car embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, show-ing the gearing and clutch mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detached view ofthe clutch and clutch-rod. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the forward wheel and spring-box. Fig. 6 is averticalsectiou ofthedriving-wheel. Fig. 7 shows an outline of thegears. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 illustrate modifications.

A represents the driving-wheel; B, the forward wheel, and U the guide wheel.

D D are the lower, and E E the upper, side bars ofthe car-frame, which parts are connected together by the posts ct and crossbars b.

The. driving-wheel A is fastened to an axle, c, which is mounted in bearings c c2, secured to the lower side bars, D D'. The forward wheel is fastened to the extended axle F, one end of which is supported in the spring-box G, attached to the forward end of the side bar, D'. Spring-,bomG consists of a metal plate, d, fastened to the under side ofthe side bar, D', and provided with a llalf-bearing, cl'.

To the under side of the plate d is secured the spring-bar d2, formed with a haltbearing, d3,andbavingitsouterenddownwardlycurved, as at d4. The extended axle is also supported by a swiveled bearing, H, consisting-of' the box e, provided with the arms 'e' e2, which are provided with bearings e3, t-o receive the pin, boltor rod F', which is inserted through the stationary bearings or eyes f, fastened to the upper and lower bars, D E. Byv these means the swiveled beariiig is rmlly secured in place.

l On the outer end of the axle F is placed a box, G', to which is pivoted the forward end of the diagonal brace H', the rear end thereof being removably secured to the main frame. By detaehing the diagonal bar from the main frame or from the box G' the axle F may be folded into the position indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2, which causes the end ofthe axle to enter the spring-box and be retained therein by the force ot' the spring-box section; or, if desired, additional fastening devices may be employedfor preventing the accidental displacement ot' the parts.

Instead ofconstructng the spring-box with its lowersection made to yield, the latter may be made stationary and the upper section made to yield and receive the axle. This construction and arrangement. of parts is simple and durable, as'it allows ot' the employment of a singlerigid axle, and yet enables the axle and guide-wheel to be folded against the main frame when it is desired to paci; the car into small com'pass for storage or transporta-tion.

1 represents the operating-lever, and `consists of the bars t' i', mounted on the rockshat't I', and provided with the handles li2 t3. The rock-shaft l' is supported in bearings I2, fastened to the lower side bars of the main fra-me.

`J J 'are Afoot-rests secured to the lower ends of swinging links J2, the upper ends of which are journaled in bearings j, secured to the upper side bars. t

K K' are links connected at one end to the foot-rests outside of the main frame, and provided at their opposite ends with hooks 7c, by which they are removably secured to the crossbar lc', connecting the lowerends of the bars thrilling the operatinglever. Thus it will be observed thatthe operator may employ both his feet and hands in propelling the car.

1f it is desired to have stationary iigstead ot oscillating foot-rests, the links 'K li' are unhooked from the operating-lever and hooked IOO over pins k2, attached to the nian frame, and ing through elongated slots s2 s2 in the side in this position the foot-rests are retained ina stationary position.

L is a crank-shaft, mounted in bearings l, secured to the lower side bars of the main frame, and has secured thereto the large gear, M, and smaller gear, N. The large gear, M, meshes into an idle-gear, M', which in turn meshes with a gear, M2, attached to the axle of the drive-wheel. The small gear, N, on the opposite side of the crank-shaft, meshes with an idle-gear, N', which in tui-n meshes with a gear, N2, secured to the axle of the drivewheel.

Gears M N are each provided with a hub having notches or recesses m formed therein. Between these gears a sliding clutch, O, is loosely mounted on the crank-shaft, the ends of the clutch being provided with projections or fingers 0, adapted to engage in the recesses or notches in the hubs of the gear-wheels M N.

Clutch O is provided with a. groove,0', within which engages the tingers o2 of a rod, O', attached to a sliding bar, O2, which is provided with'a series of notches, 03,-in which engage a spring-holding device, O4, for retaining the clutch in any desired adjustment. This sliding 'bar O2 is 'located beneath the operator-s seat, and hence is within easy reach of the operator. The cranks P P' of the crank-shaft are connected with the oi'ierating-lever by means of the pitman Piz P3.

When it is desired to throw the driving mechanism out of gear the clutch is adjusted so as to be out of engagement with both of the gears M N. When it is desired to propel the car at a comparatively slow rate of speed the clutch is thrown into engagement with the small gear, N, and, if a high rate of speed is desired, the clutch is thrown itito engagement with the large gear, M.

As represented in Figs. 2 and 6, the drivingwheel is constructed with an annular groove, a, within which is placed a rubber tire, fn', which insures increased traction on the rails, aiid thereby preventing the drivingwheel from slipping and facilitating the propulsion of the car. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown views in side elevation and plan of a modified construction of hatid-car. In this construction I employ the single. axle, the spring, and swiveled bearings tor folding the parts together in the manner hereinbefore explained.

Itistead of employing the gearing for high and low speed, l use a drivingchain, It, which eiicircles a small sprocket-wheel, It', on the axle F, and a sprocket-wheel, R2, and the crank-shaft R3, the latter being connected with the operating-lever by a single pittnau, R4, while' the foot-rests are connected to the operating-lever by a single link, fr. In thsinstance the connecting devices are located beneath and between the side bars of the main frame, instead if being on the outside thereof. Ci ankshatt R3 is mounted in boxes S S', which are fastened to the side bars by bolts s s', extendbars of the frame, atid sitnilar slots, 83, in the cap-plates S2. When it is desired to fold the axle F around against the main frame thel crank-shaft boxes S S' are loosened, thereby giving sufficient slack chain for this purpose.

The adjustabl'e boxes also allow for the taking up of any slack chain caused by wear or stretching.

It is evident that many slight changes iii the construction and relative arrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, and Ahence I would have it understood that I do notvlimit myself to the exact construction and arrange` nient of parts shown and described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a three-wheel hand-car, the combination, with the main frame and-an axle, having one of the main wlieel's secured to one eiid thereof, and a guide-wheel to its opposite end, of a swiveled bearing attached to tite inain frame and connected to said axle, substatitially as set forth.

2. In a three-wheel hand-car, the combination, with the main fratrie. atid an axle, having the guide-wheel and onel of the main wheels secured thereto, ol' a swivel-bearing provided with two arinsjointed to supporting bearings fastened to thevupper and lower side framepieces, substantially as set forth.

3. In a three-wheel hand-car, the combination, with a folding axle, of a spring or \ie1d-' TOO ing box secured to the main frame,`substan tially as set forth.

4. In a three-wheel Vhand-car, the combination, with the tnaiii frame provided with a spring or yielding box, ot' an axle connected to the main frame bya swivel-bearing, substantially as setforth.

5.*Iii a three-wheel hand-car, the combination, with the driviiigwheel having,Y gearwlieels attached to its axle ou opposite sides of the wheel, of an operating-lever, a crankshaft connected with the operating-lever so as to be operated thereby, gear-wheels attached to the crank-shaft for transmittingmotion to the driving-wheel, and a clutch mounted on the crank-shaft for throwing either train of gearing into operation, substantially as set forth.

6. In a three-.wheel hand-car, the combination, with the niain franie, of a rigid axle carrying the guide-wheel and one of the main wheels,a stationary bearing for supporting one end ot' the axle, and a hinged bearing forming a support forthe axle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specificatioiiin the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

EDVARD B. LINSLEY.

Witnesses:

A. E. BILLIMAN, O.. P. SLo'rE.

[IIS 

